Meet A Member: Darcy Lane

Where do you work?
The Maryland University of Integrative Health. I also continue to parent children number
four and five, who are young teenagers, and care for my almost 87 year old Mother, who lives with us, and is in poor health.

What is your current position?
I am a part-time Library Assistant at the Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel, Maryland.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a librarian?
I always had a list of my top three preferred jobs, after being a Mother, which was the thing I most wanted to do and be, and for the past quarter century (plus) have done and continue to do. Librarian was third on this dream job list, with Teacher second, which is also something I have done, and continue happily to do.

What was your first library job?
This is my first Library job, although I have worked in a small, independent book shop before, and for years people have mistaken me for a librarian at the public library, and often solicited advice and suggestions, which I am always quite happy and sometimes well-prepared to give.

What is your favorite part of librarianship?
My favorite parts of librarianship are the people I work and play with; all the blessed souls I get to meet and know; the panoply of ideas and thoughts that daily, hourly enchant me; research and, of course, the continuously unfolding wonder of books!

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you on the job?
My colleague, Stuart, and I daily sing and laugh with each other: the stacks sometimes resound with our jollity. He is a brilliant, compassionate, erudite, and tenacious person, friend, and librarian: a true gift to the planet, as are we all.

If you could have anything in the universe installed in your office for your personal use, what would it be?
Plants: A whole kaleidoscope of beauties, to perfume and clean the air, refresh our souls, and whisper of a world wider than the confines of glass and brick, paper and computer screens. I would ideally like to havea large seed-lending library, along with a compost and soil auxiliary area, and a tool lending service as well as ongoing gardening at the library, and ongoing classes open to all. Plants, trees, passion, and commitment may save us from the impending doom of climate disaster, and the time to act is always NOW!

What is something your colleagues would be surprised to know about you?

That I have the most extraordinarily active dream life, with nightly vivid dreams, and that I can remember dreams I had forty years ago when I was a child.

Interview conducted by Gregg Grunow.
Want to be featured on Meet A Member? E-mail Gregg at [email protected].
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